On our recent trip to visit our good friends at Uncle Otis, Toronto's premium menswear boutique, we embarked on a road trip to Prince Edward County. Nestled on Lake Ontario’s northeastern shore, Prince Edward County (PEC), affectionately known as “The County,” is a scenic island-like destination, blending rural charm with a vibrant culinary and cultural scene.
With 800 km of shoreline and natural wonders like Sandbanks Provincial Park, it's an amazing place to explore, not least because it's also Canada’s fastest-growing wine region, with over 40 wineries producing acclaimed Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on limestone-rich soil. Sadly we didn't have the time to sample much of the region's vines, but we did get stuck into some craft beers.
The first stop off on the trip was for... what else?... but a burger, so we swung by Harry's in Picton. Now, I don't want to get too emotional or break into eulogy, but Harry's burgers are nothing short of a religious epiphany, swapping Holy Water with burger juices running down your chin. Harry's lyrical slogan is "Always flippin', never slippin'", which seems about right. Their burgers are named after a lady called Jane - Plain Jane, Classic Jane, Big Jane, Double Jane - and I want to believe that she was an early patron who grew so enamoured with the joint that they named the burgers after her weight trajectory.
One thing you won't fail to miss on your way to The County is a planet-sized red apple blotting the skyline. The Big Apple is actually a not-so-subtle reminder to drink more cider. This area is home to thousands of acres of apple orchards and so The Big Apple is a rights of passage for anyone in the mood for a pie and a pint. If you're really into your alcoholic apples then you should make a beeline for County Cider, a really great farm with an expansive tasting room.
Back on the road, we were soon gunning down PEC, just four menswear nerds in a car smelling of burger fat. We drove by an impressive looking limestone hill and thought it might be a good opportunity to burn off a micro fraction of the burgers so we pulled over and walked up it, and what do you know, there was a brewery at the top! Slake Brewing is pitched at the perfect spot, with panoramic views across The County. They have a nice taproom where you can try out a bunch of different brews - God knows how people get there and get home as it's in the middle of nowhere. 'Countryside rules' I guess?
We eventually got to Sandbanks Provincial Park, home to the world’s largest freshwater dune system apparently. It's pretty stunning, endless miles of pristine beaches and trails. It was a shame the weather wasn't playing ball, otherwise we would have liked to explore the area more, but what a treat for Torontonians to escape to at the weekends.
PEC in general has that unique sense of a place being slightly stuck in time, while also having one foot in the modern world. There's a nostalgic veneer about the towns and a super chill vibe. It would be a great place to go on the run, no one would bother you. One of the best spots on the water is at The Drake Devonshire, a top notch boutique hotel that we had breakfast at the following day. I can thoroughly recommend the 'Caesar', a bloody Mary made with the ingenious portmanteau that is 'clamato juice'. They have a brilliant rolling art program, as well as an excellent permanent collection, making staying here feel like you're in a curator's home.
On Saturday night, we went to Darlings for dinner, where the owner Jesse Fader is good friends with our North American rep/maestro/legend Jon. It's a pizza ranch in a small town called Bloomfield, and it serves up outstandingly good dough. For the countryside, there is a surprisingly good array of dining options - we were told that a lot of Toronto chefs moved out to The County during covid which accounts for the raising of the culinary bar.
All in all, Toronto is a wonderful city, and an incredible place to live if you love the outdoors. There is so much natural wonder on your doorstep that you really are spoiled. Travelling with people who really know an area is magnitudes more interesting than if you were to just wing it or go by a guide book, so big thanks to Donnell, Vince and Jon for making the trip so memorable.